. >>> republicans and democrats are in a stalemate in negotiations to avoid that "fiscal cliff." as susan mcginnis reports, key players took to the sunday talk shows to make their case. >> reporter: the white house is already decorated for the holidays, but the mood here in washington is anything but festive. >> i think we're going over the cliff. >> reporter: if congress doesn't act, america will ring in the new year with $110 billion in spending cuts and a $500 billion tax increase leaving the average household with a nearly $3,500 hangover. treasury secretary timothy geithner was on capitol hill to present the plan to congress. >> i was flabbergasted. i looked at him, i says, you can't be serious. >> reporter: president obama wants $1.6 trillion in new taxes on the rich, $400 billion in cuts to entitlement programs, such as medicare, and $50 billion in stimulus spending. >> the president and the white house have had three weeks and this is the best we've got?! >> reporter: mitch mcconnell laughed at them last week. now geithner says if they don't like the president's plan, the